States, Feds Probe Google’s Unauthorized Wi-Fi Tracking

HARTFORD–Thirty state attorneys general have launched an investigation into Google’s practices of gathering Wi-Fi “payload” data. “My office will lead a multistate investigation — expected to involve a significant number of states — into Google’s deeply disturbing invasion of personal privacy,” Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said.

In June, the FCC said Google had clearly infringed on consumer privacy: “Whether intentional or not, collecting information sent over WiFi networks clearly infringes on consumer privacy.” On June 9 Google responded to the Congressional probe by stating that “being lawful and doing the right thing are two separate things.”

Blumenthal’s inquiry seeks records from Google including:

Copies of the company’s internal procedures and protocols for Street View cars and data collected by them;

What steps Google has taken to keep unauthorized code out of its products in the future;

Whether Google conducted internal or external audits, analysis or performance reviews of its Street View program and data collected;

How and when Google learned that its Street View cars were capturing data sent over unencrypted networks;

Why Google Street View cars recorded the signal strength and quality of personal and business wireless networks.